INSME

INSME is an initiative launched in 2000 by the Italian Government and introduced as part of the OECD Bologna Process on SMEs.

The “Bologna Process” is a set of initiatives agreed to by OECD members to implement recommendations adopted during the OECD Ministerial Conference on SMEs and Globalisation held in Bologna (Italy) in June 2000. The “Bologna Process” is aimed at advancing the SME Agenda at the international level and strengthening policy dialogue and cooperation between OECD and non-OECD countries, international institutions and NGOs, public and private sectors on issues related to SMEs needs and challenges in a global and knowledge-based economy.

INSME’s mission is to bring together at the international level, policy makers, intermediaries, practitioners, researchers and their networks working in the fields of innovation, technology transfer and entrepreneurship with the goal:

• to facilitate the exchange of ideas, know-how and expertise;
• to diffuse original methodologies and tools;
• to promote public-private dialogues;
• to set up international partnerships.

By acting as a gateway to knowledge, know-how and international partnerships, INSME contributes to the creation of a more fertile innovation ecosystem and to a more robust global business environment for SMEs.

INSME is committed to its mission by:

• creating a multi-stakeholder forumthat develops a knowledge-sharing process and promotes the exchange of methodologies, tools and best-practices;
• facilitating the matchmaking for the supply and demand of innovation servicesfor different regions and sectors;
• providing training, technical assistance and capacity building initiativesworldwide in the fields of innovation, technology transfer and entrepreneurship;
• benchmarking innovation policies and collecting best practicesto create specific competencies whose value is also recognized in the frame of international projects.